Marshall State Fish & Wildlife Area

By America's State Parks Editorial TeamMay 8, 2026 · Updated October 29, 2026

🦆 Illinois River backwaters — About 6,000 acres of backwater lakes, bottomlands and bluffs along nearly 10 miles of the Illinois River, in the heart of the mallard flyway.

Visitor Information

As listed by Illinois DNR in October 2026.

About Marshall

Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area stretches along nearly 10 miles of Illinois River backwaters, bottomlands and bluffs in the heart of the mallard flyway. Since a first land purchase in 1925 the area has grown to about 6,000 acres, half of it water, in three units:

• Marshall Unit (about 3,000 acres, east of the Illinois River along Route 26): the area headquarters, a small campground, a boat ramp, a fishing channel, the hunter check station and hiking trails. The terrain runs from ravine-cut bluffs down to bottomland lakes, islands and sloughs.
• Spring Beach Unit (1,642 acres, 537 of them water, on the west side of the river between Sparland and Chillicothe, in Marshall and Peoria counties): a 6-acre picnic area, fishing, and access to hunting and hiking trails off Route 29.
• Sparland Unit (1,280 acres, 1,110 of them water, between Route 29 and the river): used mainly for waterfowl hunting, with fishing at times. The backwater is very shallow, and boat access is difficult in low water.

Getting There

From I-80, take I-39 south at LaSalle for about 25 miles to the Lacon/IL Route 17 exit, go west on Route 17 for 20 miles to Lacon, then south on Route 26 for 5 miles. From I-74 near East Peoria, follow IL Route 116 north about 5 miles to Route 26, turn left and drive 18 miles north. Brown highway signs mark the area. The park’s coordinates are 40.9544, -89.4288.

Things to Do

Illinois DNR lists boating, camping, canoeing, cross-country skiing, fishing, hiking, hunting and picnicking. Waterfowl hunting centers on the Sparland Unit, and hunters check in at the station on the Marshall Unit; check current site regulations with Illinois DNR before the season. Groups of 25 or more must register in advance with the site office, and at least one adult must accompany each group of 15 minors.

Camping

Tent and trailer spaces with electricity and water are available on the Marshall Unit. Camping permits are issued at the site, and reservations are accepted through Illinois DNR’s ExploreMoreIL system. Canoe camping is allowed on the islands except during waterfowl hunting season. As of October 2026.

Wildlife & Nature

The high bluffs east of Route 26 and west of Route 29 carry heavy hardwood timber of oaks, hickories and walnuts, with wildflowers and shrubs in between. Red, gray and flying squirrels and white-tailed deer live here, and songbirds, owls and hawks are common, especially during migration.

Down in the bottomlands, cottonwood, silver maple and willow cover much of the low ground and several large islands, with river bulrush at the water’s edge. Watch at dawn and dusk for deer, raccoon, muskrat, mink and beaver; the beaver dams in the backwaters are good places to wait. Heavy siltation has made the backwater lakes less attractive to wildlife than they once were, but they still draw large flights of waterfowl in migration. Only the wood duck stays through summer to nest. Great blue herons fish the shallows in large numbers, sometimes 75 at once, and in winter bald eagles soar over the frozen lakes or perch on snags.

Best Time to Visit

Spring and fall: large flights of migrating waterfowl over the backwaters, plus songbirds, owls and hawks on the bluffs. Summer: nesting wood ducks, fishing herons and camping. Winter: bald eagles over the frozen lakes and cross-country skiing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you camp at Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area?

Yes. The Marshall Unit has tent and trailer sites with electricity and water; camping permits come from the site office, and reservations are accepted through ExploreMoreIL (as of October 2026).

Is canoe camping allowed?

Yes, on the islands, except during waterfowl hunting season.

When can you see bald eagles at Marshall?

In winter, when Illinois DNR notes it is not unusual to see bald eagles soaring above the frozen backwater lakes or perched on snags.

Are dogs allowed?

Yes, but pets must be kept on a leash at all times.

Make it a road trip: Pair a visit with Jubilee College State Park (within about an hour’s drive) or Starved Rock State Park (within about an hour’s drive).

Keep exploring: our full Illinois state parks guide.

About the Author

America's State Parks Editorial Team

America's State Parks is an independent online guide to state parks and other public lands in the United States. Our editorial team compiles park profiles from official agency and operator sources and other identified references, and follows our published editorial policy and review methodology. Where a profile shows a source-check date, that date applies to the detail it names. We correct errors when we find them or when readers report them.

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